Winter at Home

We made cinnamon salt dough ornaments as a winter craft this season and Stella liberally decorated them with dollar store glitter. I am still finding it all over the house from that one hour we made this craft, and every time I see a shimmery speck glistening in between the cracks of the floorboards I cannot help but smile. Also, I cannot get over how big she looks here. Maybe it’s the bangs. Maybe it’s that grown up grin and how she smiles with her amaretto colored eyes. She’s getting so big and it’s all moving so damn fast.

Reading has never felt more important in my life than it does right now. I can’t seem to get enough of it these days and have found myself in bed early most nights soaking up the pages others have poured their hearts and souls onto. Give me all the memoirs! I haven’t done a library post in awhile in this space, but should have one coming up soon. I am currently reading Ann Lamott’s book called Traveling Mercies. I cannot recommend it enough and cannot wait to fold back the first pages of Bird By Bird here in a few days.

Theodore’s favorite craft right now is painting. I adore how concentrated he becomes when creating something to hang on our old plaster walls. He also got some wonderful square beeswax crayons for Christmas from nana and papa and those have been a hit, too.

I have been going through all my cookbooks this winter, looking up new recipes to try to pull me out of the meal planning rut I seem to fall into each season. I put my favorites in an old fruit basket I thrifted on the counter of our pantry, and every evening at about four thirty they shine. I’ve also just noticed a major red theme happening here. Interesting!

A few days ago I came down the stairs with my arms full of dirty towels and saw the boys on top of our rickety kitchen table having an afternoon snack. The Waldorf window stars we made the week before made rainbows on the backs of their fuzzy heads and it was really beautiful seeing them sit there sharing something sugary. I am convinced that there may be nothing sweeter than seeing my babies get along and truly want to be with one another.

Winter light is so beautiful, isn’t it? I noticed our dresser was illuminated the other day and it made me smile. On it I have a small picture of my mom and I from a hot summer week spent in Ortonville, Minnesota years ago. My great grandma lived on the lake there and this is the two of us walking along the rocky shell-crushed shores just outside her house. I have always treasured this photo but now that I have a little girl of my own it’s even more special to me. My mom also gave me that little Jizo statue. It is a protector of travelers, women, and children. I treasure it.

I have a sweet little calendar hanging on our fridge and every time I see the words “January” I let out a sigh of relief that a new year has arrived and 2016 is long gone. Last year was heavy. I am ready for a new start.

Winter means more messes inside than out and our living room usually looks like this. Before bed we’ll all chip in and tuck things back into baskets before heading upstairs to brush our teeth, and them in again the morning the ritual dumping of toys commences as we kick off yet another wintery day.

So I gave Alfie a horrible first haircut in the kitchen the other morning, my knees bent on the hard floor and him squirming on my lap like a worm out of mud. After one clip of the sheers he ran off up the stairs, so part two of his first haircut took place in the bathroom with his pudgy feet halfway out the door and me pleading with him to sit still. In all, I ended up giving him an uneven and very feminine bob similar to one I requested my hair stylist cut in college based on a very thin photograph I cut from a magazine of Victoria Beckham. Victoria’s short, angular hairstyle was “the Rachel” hairstyle for that embarrassing chunk of years, and I think I thought sporting it would make me look skinnier. It didn’t. Oh, sweet Alfie. A bad first home cut must be a right of passage, no? Maybe if he sits still tomorrow I’ll be able to fix it, probably not though. To be honest, his big ol’ cheeks are so cute you kind of look right past it.

The boys and I made pinecone bird feeders at school the other day. To make them you just roll pinecones in peanut butter and then dip into bird seed. Easy! Then, tie with a string to somewhere birds love to linger and eat away.

I was combing through Pinterest the other day looking for a simple, new craft to try with the kids and I came across a bunch of cotton ball activities. Talk about nostalgia. The kids made snowball snowmen on black construction paper and they turned out super sweet.

This was taken the day it felt like we were living in a snow globe. It was so quiet and wonderful and for a moment I decided winter is my favorite season.

One day before supper Stella treated her brothers and herself to various snacks from the cupboard and they sneaked over by the couch to eat them together, whereafter she promptly told on herself by saying, “Mom, come look how cute we look!” I had to agree. I don’t like them filling up on snacks before supper, but this I love. Though hard and exhausting and every little thing in-between, these years are magic and we need not lose sight of that.

This was taken pre-bad hair cut when Alfie embraced those long curls and broke apart Theodore’s train village. This kid has one speed: get into stuff and then get into more stuff.

Stella’s room has been the hub of blanket forts lately and she insists on making them herself. She’s an independent turkey and I adore that about her feisty spirit. I also love that she lines up her babies on her bed because I used to do that too.

Did you know citrus removes grime and goo? I use lemons to get rid of the yucky stuff on our oven grates and it works like a charm! This is something I do once a month or so, but with all the soupy splatters I’ve been making I should probably do it more often.

Here is Stella’s gingerbread house from a holiday evening we spent at church. It took her about thirty minutes to just do the pretzels on the roof and then the boys started having meltdowns so I shoved a lot of candy in the pockets of my winter coat and we finished it at home. Theodore ate half of it the next day but it was pretty while it lasted!

I have been roasting the heck out of all kind of veggies this winter. If it grew in the mud, chances are I’ve tried roasting it. Right now I am all about making roasted golden beet salad with blue cheese, walnuts, red onion, and spicy dijon vinaigrette. Yum.

Theodore and Alfie’s teacher gave each of them a little beeswax ornament for Christmas this year. How cute! We do a toddler program once a week with other little ones and their parents and it has blessed us so much this year.

This is a lantern Stella made in school for Martinmas this year. She took a mason jar and glued different kinds of tissue paper on the inside, then glued stars to the outside. When lit, it shines all sorts of colors on our walls.

Like most families in the wintertime, we had a rough week where all five of us were down for the count with some sort of illness. It was a long week you guys. And while we are all better and fever free, I still feel like I am recovering. I think because our weather keeps fluctuating it has been harder for me to jump back into things, so I am taking it easy and getting as much rest as possible. Look at those lips. He took a five hour nap this afternoon and for the last hour of it I curl up alongside him. I also love his new haircut. A professional did it, and it does not look like Victoria Beckham circa 2005, praise the Lord.

Winter days are equal parts wonderful and maddening – we were so sick over our winter break from school but it forced my 6year old and 2.5 year old to play together and sometimes it was downright magical. I have a hard time with the doldrums during this part of the year too- it’s nice to focus on the small stuff though; housekeeping, good food, fort building.ReplyCancel

Amanda

Oh, I just love this. I wonder if you wouldn’t mind sharing a tutorial on how you made the stars for the window. Thinking the paper itself might make a great Valentine’s Day gift for my 3 year old and we could make them together.ReplyCancel

I grew up in the Waldorf school and these stars remind me of my childhood so much! Here’s a tutorial I found online: http://www.arwenart.com/tutorials.html But I’m sure Amanda has some good tips. They really are beautiful! I have two in my house right now that are quite faded so probably time to make some more.ReplyCancel

ahhh winter… i think it’s god’s way of forcing us to slow down for a few months out of the year. right now we’re reading farmer boy and the cold season really was the only time families could slow down from work and cozy up in the evenings. (good to remember when i feel overwhelming boredom creeping in!) i love that photo of the boys on the table with the light behind!ReplyCancel

Sarah

I love this post. Little snapshots of your days. What a wonderful way to document this time in life. Inspired to do the same. Blessings to you, Amanda, and your family:)ReplyCancel

the resemblance between your babes and each other and yourself seems so pronounced lately. it makes my heart ache so good. i don’t have children of my own yet, but i imagine it is something special to see yourself in them, and them in each other.ReplyCancel

Shannon

Wanted to let you know Rainy Day Books is having an author event on April 11th with Anne Lamott! She will be talking about her new book. I think it is $20 to attend and comes with a copy of Hallejah Anyway.ReplyCancel

Heather

I am a stay at home mom with three little ones too and it is so nice to pop over here once in a while and be comforted by your chatty posts and beautiful images. What a nice perspective you have. Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

Tanya Martsenyuk

That dark shot of the boys on the table with the stars lit up on the window–I would blow that up and hang it, if only to remind you of those moments when they’re getting along and enjoying each other. Those moments are gold! Also, I will have to try lemon on my stovetop–I don’t use anything because I want to stay away from chemicals but don’t know what natural thing will help. 🙂ReplyCancel

Rachel

Thank you for the words you share, they bless me so frequently and I love to come back to them for encouragement. The bedding in the last photo is so beautiful! Where did you get your comforter and quilt? Thank you ☺️ReplyCancel